Opinion needed

[Riomouse911]

Your toy, your choice. If you do shorten the barrel make sure it is done well, or you will regret it.

I made the choice to “restoration blue” (my FFL’s term) my Great Uncles M&P .38 a few years ago. He wore it from 1945-1965 at LVPD. It was well holster worn all over, had a deep scratch on the right side and a few other nicks from 20 years of use.



This totally ruined any collectors value and covered up the honest wear the gun had over its service life. But, it brought it back to looking like it did when it was newer and worn during the Meyer Lansky and mobster heydays of 1950’s Las Vegas. The way it looks now makes me feel good, which IMHO is all that matters. Same goes for you.

Stay safe.

 

[jstert]

Your toy, your choice. If you do shorten the barrel make sure it is done well, or you will regret it.

I made the choice to “restoration blue” (my FFL’s term) my Great Uncles M&P .38 a few years ago. He wore it from 1945-1965 at LVPD. It was well holster worn all over, had a deep scratch on the right side and a few other nicks from 20 years of use.

This totally ruined any collectors value and covered up the honest wear the gun had over its service life. But, it brought it back to looking like it did when it was newer and worn during the Meyer Lansky and mobster heydays of 1950’s Las Vera's. The way it looks now makes me feel good, which IMHO is all that matters. Same goes for you.

excellent decision and job; indeed do it right or don’t do it at all. i sure wish that firearms could talk; this one must have some great history to relate.

 

[SterlingBullet]

I vote for the change. I have appreciated every Brazilian trim that I have ever seen.

 

[SterlingBullet]

The way it looks now makes me feel good, which IMHO is all that matters. Same goes for you.
Stay safe.

Are those grips sterling silver? Are they custom made, or available for purchase?

 

[sparkyv]

IMO, it's your firearm, do what you want with it.

 

[Riomouse911]

Are those grips sterling silver? Are they custom made, or available for purchase?

The grips are sterling silver with Mexican imagery (Mayan calendar and eagle gripping snake) made of copper. My Dad’s family is big into Southwestern history, and have always revered the major contributions the Navajo, Paiute and later the Mexican predecessors made to the Southern Nevada region before they arrived. (My Dad’s father, uncle and grandparents arrived in Las Vegas in 1912, direct from Scotland via Ellis Island. They were hardrock miners who worked the gold mines in Searchlight until the mines played out.)

According to my Uncle, who first received the gun from my Great Uncle when he passed in the late 1970’s, the grips were handmade by someone unknown way back in the 1950’s. They were on the gun for a long time, as the FFL who did the bluing said that there was a transfer of a slight amount of silver from the grips to the frame that had to be removed for the bluing to take in those spots. I will guess years and years of salty desert sweat helped that chemical process along.

So, I have no idea exactly when or by who they were made. All I do know is that qthat they are on the gun in my Great Uncle’s retirement picture, which was taken on his last day in uniform in 1965.

Wish I could be of more help.

Stay safe.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

I have in decades past modified for personal use "collectible" firearms that weren't in collectible condition (NRA Very Good or better).
Today a couple of them would be worth $150 to $200 more as Fair to Good condition collectibles are hard to find now.

 

[SterlingBullet]

Thank you for sharing. But now, I have to decide if I want to tackle a big project and make my own. I have scrap silver in that size. I might just make the grips and have one of the shops that do custom laser engraving handle the imagery (I'm thinking patriotic theme over hammered base).

 

[Armored farmer]

I would shorten that thing in a heartbeat and never look back. I've been wanting a 3" 45acp for a good while.
Your gun is the perfect candidate.

 

[Jim Watson]

I wouldn't, but it is because even a 3.5 - 4" N frame is more than I want to hump around, not for any idea of collectability.
A 3.5" .45 would be the same sort of house gun or centerfire plinker as a 5.5" .45.
My M27 3.5" is idle and my sawn off M25 4" only gets out when I want to shoot Revolver in the local "style" match.

 

[Japle]

I'd love to have one and if I did, I'd cut it back to 4".
What can I say, I like S&W revolvers with 4" barrels and big holes in the front end.

 

[fastbolt]

Your gun, your call. It's just an old revolver. What will make you happy with it?

 

[StrawHat]

I wouldn't, but it is because even a 3.5 - 4" N frame is more than I want to hump around, not for any idea of collectability.
A 3.5" .45 would be the same sort of house gun or centerfire plinker as a 5.5" .45.
My M27 3.5" is idle and my sawn off M25 4" only gets out when I want to shoot Revolver in the local "style" match.

Jim,

Would you carry a 4” Model 19 or a 4” Model 15?

I believe the 4” Model 1917 weighs the same, 35.5 ounces.

Kevin

 

[Jim Watson]

Not now that I have other guns.
A Commander is about the heaviest I have carried and now I am down to subcompact plastic.

A Model 12 is interesting if you want to stick to revolvers. I don’t know why they didn’t continue it instead of brilliant ideas like airweight .44 Magnums.

 

[StrawHat]

Not now that I have other guns.
A Commander is about the heaviest I have carried and now I am down to subcompact plastic.

A Model 12 is interesting if you want to stick to revolvers. I don’t know why they didn’t continue it instead of brilliant ideas like airweight .44 Magnums.

Jim,

I am not comfortable with self loading pistols. Too many years with revolvers and too much ingrained technique to overcome in my remaining time. But, as I do like the 45 ACP cartridge, my edc is a 4”, N frame, so chambered. The largest hole available in the frame makes it the lightest revolver for that size frame.

I still have a couple of 1911s but when I have needed to grab something, it has always been a revolver.

Kevin

 

[Jim Watson]

Well, they say John Henry Fitzgerald carried not one but two of his chopped New Services, so it can be done.
A bigbore enthusiast friend might have been found with either 1911, M29, or Blackhawk .45 on any given day. He really liked that Blackhawk, he wore it out and had it rebuilt by Ruger. But he won his gunfight with the auto.

 

[Sarge7402]

I would be prouder of a Charter Arms .45 ACP revolver than a butchered Smith and Wesson.

https://charterfirearms.com/products/74520-pitbull-45-acp-revolver

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/984599427

View attachment 1152844

You gotta love this guy...



And lastly, WWH45D?

What he said. Don't think of this as a small charter Arms revolver. Cylinder wise it's bigger than the one on my SAA. With the pachmyer grips they are a blast to shoot and at 7 yards right on the money

 

[Dave T]

If this works this is the gun I was referring to in post #10:


It's dirty from the last outing where it digested 48 rounds of 45 ACP in Moonclips. Every time I shoot this thing I like it better and better.

Dave

 

[gasmandave]

If this works this is the gun I was referring to in post #10:

View attachment 1153857
It's dirty from the last outing where it digested 48 rounds of 45 ACP in Moonclips. Every time I shoot this thing I like it better and better.

Dave

Now that's what I'm talking about.
Who/how did the barrel and sight?

Dave H

 

[StrawHat]

If this works this is the gun I was referring to in post #10:

…
It's dirty from the last outing where it digested 48 rounds of 45 ACP in Moonclips. Every time I shoot this thing I like it better and better.

Dave

Dave,

A lot of good work went in to that revolver. I can see why you like it! I would also!

Kevin

 

[WisBorn]

I would go ahead shorten the barrel. While your at it maybe change the grips. Bob the hammer and make it a carry option.

I would love 1917 and would have a hard time not shortening the barrel.

 

[wcwhitey]

If this works this is the gun I was referring to in post #10:

View attachment 1153857
It's dirty from the last outing where it digested 48 rounds of 45 ACP in Moonclips. Every time I shoot this thing I like it better and better.

Dave

That is sexy!

 

[StrawHat]

I would go ahead shorten the barrel. While your at it maybe change the grips. Bob the hammer and make it a carry option.

I would love 1917 and would have a hard time not shortening the barrel.

Not a Model 1917 but still a 45 ACP revolver,





Kevin

 

[Dave T]

What a beauty. If I ran across a gun like that I'd buy it. Period!

Dave

 

[Anvil Jenkins]

I have an old Smith 1917 with no rifling.

Like you I thought about modifying it, fitzing it, and other things

in the end, I decided to leave it as is. If I can find a good replacement barrel I will change it...but it is just too old to muck up IMO